Shadowing a Dr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you find a doctor to shadow?

Best path is to ask people you know. Can send blind emails if you really don't know any doctors but that's a tough road.

[Anonymous]

We had a high school student shadow a surgeon for a few hours one day. He wasn't even seeing patients that day, he was just showing him around the hospital, explaining different parts of the job, and all that. They were in the ICU (where I was) and a patient coded. Due to the nature of why the patient was there and the type of surgeon he was, the doctor left the student at the nurses station and ran into the code because we were going to be opening up the chest. When we were done the poor kid was pale (he didn't see anything but he could hear the commotion) and basically said he didn't think this was for him. I felt bad because there are obviously many types of medicine where that is NOT the norm. Thankfully the surgeon was a family friend so could talk the kid through it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you find a doctor to shadow?

Best path is to ask people you know. Can send blind emails if you really don't know any doctors but that's a tough road.

Or you can ask your pediatrician or internist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ms DS shadowed an oral surgeon who is the father of one of his longtime friends and got to watch everything during 12 procedures. 🥴This was over Xmas break as a college freshman though. After one year of pre-med he decided to take a different path.

I should also say that the surgeon was pretty upfront with DS about the path he took, how his practice is structured, work/life balance, etc.

Your son should shadow a psychiatrist. My work/life balance is great. I can get a job in just about any city in the US. And 17 years into it, every patient I see is still interesting.

[Anonymous]

Are most patients ok with a HS student sitting in on their appt?

[Anonymous]

I shadowed an orthopedic surgeon one summer and decided I did not want to become a doctor after all. I observed back surgery for scoliosis and club foot surgery. I wasn’t squeamish or anything, but I found it to be boring. I’m glad I had the opportunity to do it because it compelled me to go in a different direction. The surgeon was a family friend.

[Anonymous]

As a patient, I would not want a high schooler in the examination room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid shadowed an orthopedic surgeon in HS and loved it. Got to watch a couple of achilles repairs and and some knee surgeries and loved it. Went pre-med with a biochemistry/econ major and as they shadowed in college saw the deeper realities and bureaucracy they have to deal with decided it was not their cup of tea. Next stop law school. Moral of the story is make sure they shadow multiple specialties and just not the cool ones. Match Day could end up brutal otherwise and then it's a lot of years to be something you're not passionate about.

Should have shadowed a lawyer, lol.

-- a lawyer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a patient, I would not want a high schooler in the examination room.

Most people really don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a patient, I would not want a high schooler in the examination room.

They have a choice. The doctor asks if it's OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a patient, I would not want a high schooler in the examination room.

If it’s a junior or senior in HS, you wouldn’t know the difference bw that and a college student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a patient, I would not want a high schooler in the examination room.

When I did it, the doctor asked and none of the patients had a problem with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ms DS shadowed an oral surgeon who is the father of one of his longtime friends and got to watch everything during 12 procedures. 🥴This was over Xmas break as a college freshman though. After one year of pre-med he decided to take a different path.

I should also say that the surgeon was pretty upfront with DS about the path he took, how his practice is structured, work/life balance, etc.

Your son should shadow a psychiatrist. My work/life balance is great. I can get a job in just about any city in the US. And 17 years into it, every patient I see is still interesting.

This leads me to believe ... you are not a psychiatrist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid shadowed an orthopedic surgeon in HS and loved it. Got to watch a couple of achilles repairs and and some knee surgeries and loved it. Went pre-med with a biochemistry/econ major and as they shadowed in college saw the deeper realities and bureaucracy they have to deal with decided it was not their cup of tea. Next stop law school. Moral of the story is make sure they shadow multiple specialties and just not the cool ones. Match Day could end up brutal otherwise and then it's a lot of years to be something you're not passionate about.

Should have shadowed a lawyer, lol.

-- a lawyer

Oh do tell, what're they missing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you find a doctor to shadow?

Best path is to ask people you know. Can send blind emails if you really don't know any doctors but that's a tough road.

This is why URM and lower income kids have such a hard time. They do not have these connections.